Arts Festivals Summit 2019

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Darko Brlek

General and Artistic Director of the Ljubljana Festival

5th EFA President from
2005 to 2017

We are here today to
honour Mr Darko Brlek as the outgoing fifth President of the European Festivals
Association.

In 1992, Darko Brlek became the youngest artistic
director of the Ljubljana Festival, taking over as executive
director of the country's most important cultural festival in 1995. Before he
was the youngest ever director of the Ljubljana Opera House at the age of only
26. He became Vice-President of the European Festivals Association in 1997 and
has served as EFA’s President since 2005. He is founder and first president of
the cultural chamber of Slovenia and founder of the Association of Slovene
Festivals. What many of us do not see every day: Darko Brlek is a renowned
concert clarinetist, regularly performing on stages around the world.

In 1952, 15 festivals rallied to de Rougemont’s
vision, and that of Igor Markevitch and founded the European Festivals
Association. EFA is the result of the dialogue between these two great
Europeans: de Rougemont the philosopher and Markevitch the artist; a Swiss and
a Ukrainian; an experienced politician and a young conductor. Dialogue was one
of Darko’s guiding principles during his presidency and board time.

Under his presidency and board membership, Darko saw
the Association change drastically; including its membership, boards and
secretary generals (Henry Siegwart, Tamas Klenjansky, Hugo De Greef and Kathrin
Deventer); a time in which the office moved from Génève to Gent to Brussels; a
time in which new activities and projects were born including The Festival
Academy, as well as the European Label for Festivals.

After 12 years of serving as EFA’s fifth President in
the Association’s history – he followed Denis de Rougemont 1952-1982; Tassilo
Nekola 1982 – 1989; Frans de Ruiter 1989 – 2004; Gavin Henderson in 2004, Darko
Brlek was elected president in Brno in 2005), it was time, Darko said, for
colleagues to take over this important mission.

So he followed his believe. In his own words: “I
always say that festivals are like litmus paper, by which I mean that when
society changes, festivals change. They reflect society. And we are constantly
changing. I recently told a colleague that even after two decades of working
for the festival I still feel like a complete newcomer because of completely
different circumstances - such as the financial situation in the country and
Europe, changes in the educational system, the reaction of society to various
cultural events, the popularisation of the internet, electronic communications
and social media - this is a real revolution.”

To the
question “What is the role of the European Festivals Association?”, Darko said:
“This is a question I always ask myself, and I
also ask my colleagues on the board, and other members. First of all I think
the most important thing is that the festivals have a network, to communicate,
to exchange opinions, experiences and ideas. Second, it’s a platform or a space
for getting information, and also for being in contact with policymakers. That
I think is the main benefit, being able to influence their decisions. Sometimes
we complain about them, but still if we don’t communicate with them how can
they support culture, even if they like culture? And if they don’t like culture
then it’s even more difficult”

Darko is leaving EFA’s
presidency in a crucial state of its development, as he says
himself. EFA has built up an exceptional international standing, serving today
as reputable partner for the European Union and important stakeholders
worldwide with its membership, its Festival Academy and its European Label for
Festivals. During the last decade the Association has tripled its budget and is
today in an outstandingly positive and healthy position.

Today, we thank him for his work. And we honour him
for the time he spent on EFA. It will guide us also in the future and we are
looking forward to be in touch now as member of EFA, president of The Festival
Academy, General and Artistic director of the Ljubljana Festival and as artist.
Thank you Darko.